Azerbaijan and Georgia have signed a protocol approving the completion and final acceptance of the modernisation works carried out within the BTK rail corridor project.
The agreement was signed by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Transport and Digital Development, Rashad Nabiyev, and Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili. The ceremony took place on 18 May in the presence of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze.
Under the signed document, the two countries commit to coordinating and implementing works for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and construction of the railway section from Marabda to the border with Turkey (at Kartsakhi) within the framework of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway corridor project.
The event also marked the launch of the joint venture BTKI Railways, established by subsidiaries of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) and the Marabda–Kartsakhi Railway, to ensure the efficient management of the BTK line.
Works completed to increase capacity
To increase the capacity of the BTK rail corridor, modernisation works were carried out in 2024 by ADY on the 184 km section crossing Georgia. The five-phase project included the upgrading of 13 railway stations, 55 bridges, 8 traction substations, 320 buildings, and multiple engineering structures (bridges, viaducts, level crossings, etc.).
Within the project, 30.3 km of new railway line were constructed, a bogie exchange station was established, and rehabilitation and reconstruction works were carried out on 153.1 km of existing railway line.
The project was implemented in a challenging geographical area, in some sections at altitudes of up to 2,400 metres above sea level and in harsh climatic conditions. As a result, the annual transport capacity of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars corridor has increased from 1 million tonnes to 5 million tonnes.
The aim of the modernisation is to transform the BTK into one of the main freight arteries of the Middle Corridor and to enhance its competitiveness. This upgrade makes the BTK a more functional route, positioning it as one of the shortest and most flexible overland links between China and Central Asia and Europe.
On the Azerbaijani side of the project, ADY has completed major repair works on the Baku–Boyuk Kasik section and modernised the energy system. Last year, the Boyuk Kasik–Hajigabul section of the BTK line was converted to alternating current, while communication and signalling systems were also upgraded.
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